Anyone who has known Alison for any length of time will know that, alongside property, one of her great passions has always been healthy food.
For years, she has been the person turning up at the QP Savills office with her latest “you’ll never guess what’s in this” creation, always made with wholesome ingredients and usually with no refined sugar in sight. Some of us took a little convincing in the early days, but her healthier cakes and brownies have long since become office favourites.
The idea of opening a healthy café in the Algarve was never really a new one. It had been sitting in the background for years. Then Alison met Milla.
How Alison Met Milla
They first got talking on the sidelines of a football pitch, watching Alison’s grandson and Milla’s sons play. Somewhere between matches and conversations, they discovered a shared love of good food and a very similar idea of the kind of café they both wished existed locally.
Milla had already built a loyal following through the fresh food and salads she was preparing in the area, and before long, what had started as a casual conversation became something much bigger.
From Idea to Milla Real Food
The result is Milla Real Food: a warm, welcoming café in Almancil built around a simple philosophy: that eating well should never mean compromising on flavour or enjoyment.
The interiors were an important part of the vision from the beginning. Working with Design Studio by Rory, Alison and Milla wanted somewhere with real personality: warm, tactile and beautifully designed, but still relaxed enough to pop into in gym clothes for a morning coffee.
Natural textures, thoughtful details and a laid-back Mediterranean feel come together to create a space that feels special without ever feeling precious.
Real Food, Properly Enjoyed.
At its heart, Milla is about fresh, nourishing food that also happens to taste really good.
Everything is made with intention using quality ingredients, with no refined sugar or seed oils. The menu combines healthier takes on familiar favourites with salad and breakfast bowls, sourdough, speciality coffee, matcha, fresh juices and plenty of things to grab on the go.
And healthy certainly doesn’t mean boring.
The QP Savills team has already carried out a considerable amount of “research”. The bowls are delicious, the matcha has earned very enthusiastic reviews, the sourdough has quickly become a favourite, and the pistachio and raspberry cream cakes are dangerously good.
We’re still trying to find something we don’t like.
The Partnership Behind Milla
For Alison, Milla Real Food is the realisation of an idea she had imagined for years. For Milla, it brings together her love of food, her natural warmth and the loyal following she had already begun to build.
Together, they have created something that reflects both of them: Alison’s long-held vision and entrepreneurial experience, alongside Milla’s food philosophy, energy and day-to-day presence in the café. As the face of Milla, you’ll usually find her there welcoming customers, chatting across the tables and helping create the warm, easy atmosphere they both wanted from the beginning.
The response since opening has been extraordinary. What initially felt like the inevitable excitement around somewhere new has quickly turned into something much more encouraging: people are returning, bringing friends and already making Milla part of their routine.
And This May Only Be the Beginning
Anyone who knows Alison will also know that another long-held dream has been to create a beautiful space for yoga, movement and wellbeing.
We’re not giving too much away just yet, but something rather exciting is taking shape right next door to Milla. Watch this space…
Visit Milla Real Food in Almancil
If you haven’t been yet, consider this your invitation. Come in, have a look around, say hello to Milla and the team, and definitely arrive hungry.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 8am to 4pm. Seven-day opening coming soon.
Address: Rua do Comércio 219, Escanxinhas, 8135-016 Almancil, Portugal
Instagram: @millarealfood for the latest from the café.
Living Near Almancil
Almancil sits just minutes from Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo, and a good local café is one of those small things that makes everyday life here so easy to love. If you are thinking about a home in the Central Algarve, our team has been advising buyers and owners in the area for almost thirty years.